Pinion for clocks



(No Model.)

A. E. HOTOHKISS. PINION POROLOGKS.

No. 248,558. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

ITNESSES' INVENTOR ATTORNE'Y r1, PETERS, PholwLllhngraphon Washinglulk UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-v

ARTHUR E. HOTOHKISS, OF CHESHIRE, CONNECTICUT.

PINION FOR CLOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,558, dated October 18, 1881.

Application filed January 25, 1861. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. HOTOHKISS, of Cheshire, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pinions for Clocks, Watches, and other Instruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in pinions for clocks, watches, and other instruments.

Heretofore, clock-pinions of the type known as lantern-pinions have ordinarily been made as follows: Two brass collets are driven onto the pinion-shaft and the pinion and collets then turned to the proper size and form. The collets are then drilled with any desired number of holes, according to the number of leaves required in the pinion. Steel wires are then driven or inserted in the holes in the collets, and constitute the leaves of the pinion, the wires being secured by upsetting the collet around the holes for the pinion-leaves by a prick-punch. The wheel is then staked onto one of the collets by a prick-punch. This method of making clock-pinions is objectionable for several reasons, among which the following are noted: Delicate machinery and comparatively highpriced labor are required in drilling the collets and securing the pinion-leaves therein second, the leaves sometimes become loose, owing to the insecure fastening afforded by upsetting a portion of the collet around the ends of the pinion-leaves; third, the wheels secured to the collets by staking are drawn out of true in two directions-via, axially and laterally-and to properly fit the pinions calls for slow and highpriced labor, as the wheel must be fitted so that its periphery will be perfectly concentric with the shaft and at right angles thereto, in order to form a perfect mesh with its pinion; fourth, the employment of two brass collets to support the ends of the pinion-leaves increases the length of the pinion to such an extent that the train requires more space between the movement-frames than is desirable in many styles of clock-cases.

The object of my invention is to obviate-the defects and objectionable features hereinbefore referred to in the manufacture of pinions, and to provide pinions which shall be simple and economical in construction and durable in use.

With these ends in View my invention consists in a clock-pinion having its pinion-leaves secured in place by solder and supported at one end only.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of my improved wheel and pinion. of the combined wheel and pinion. Fig.3 is a view, in side elevation, of a pinion made independent of the wheel. Fig. 4 is an end view of the collet-pinion shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 represents a crown-wheel embodying my invention.

A represents a toothed wheel, in which is formed any desired number of holes, a, by drilling or punching, for the reception of the pinion-leaves and a central hole for the insertion of the pinion-shaft B. Pinion-leaves O are inserted at one end within the holes a, and, together with the shaft B, are secured in place by means of solder, D, applied to one side of the wheel, as illustrated in the drawings.

The process of manufacturing my improved pinions may be varied widely. They may be made in the manner described in my patent the application for which was filed September 14, 1880, or they can be produced in other ways; andas I make no claim in this patent to any particular process or devices for manufacturing the pinions, a detailed description of such process and mechanism will not be required in this patent.

Instead of securing the leaves to the wheel A, they may be secured to a collet, E, in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 3. This form of pinion is used when the wheel is to be located on the shaft at a distance from the pinion. Much less stock is required in the manufacture of my improved pinion than those of ordinary construction, as in the combined wheel and pinion the two collets ordinarily employed are dispensed with; and, further, the clock train can be disposed in smaller compass, owing to the fact that the pinions can be made of less length than is the case when the two collets are used.

Fig. 2 is a view, in side elevation,

Fig. 5 shows a crown-wheel having wire leaves secured to its periphery by solder. Other forms of wheels maybe made in the same manner.

Delicate and costly machinery and highpricedlaborare not required in the manufacture.

of my improved pinions; and, further, the pinions are adapted for use without being first fitted and trued, as is necessary in the manufacture of ordinary piuions.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A clock or watch pinion having its leaves secured at one end by solder or fusible metal, substantially as set forth. 

